HOBOKEN, N.J. – Junior forward Sheryl Cwiekalo (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) scored a season-high 14 points off the bench – 10 in the first half – as Stevens Institute of Technology cruised to a 67-34 win over Lehman College in a non-conference women’s basketball game at the Canavan Arena.
Stevens (11-9), which extended its winning streak to six games, jumped out to a 35-8 halftime lead. The Ducks scored the first six points of the game and never trailed. Lehman (8-15) shot just 11.5 percent (3-for-26) in the first half.
Cwiekalo, who matched her season-high of 10 points in the first half, had two 3-pointers and a layup on three straight possessions, helping Stevens extend a nine-point lead to 15 in a span of 1:06. Her layup with 8:36 left in the half gave the Ducks a 21-6 lead. Stevens scored the final 11 points of the first half to open up a 27-point halftime advantage.
The lead grew to 36 points (48-12) with 14:38 left before the teams exchanged baskets over the remainder of the half.
Cwiekalo was joined in double figures by junior guard Aracely Cruz (Union City, N.J./Union Hill) who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Rachel Ostroff (North Miami, Fla./Miami Country Day) added a season-high 10 points in just 12 minutes off the bench. No Stevens starter played more than 23 minutes.
Lehman was led by freshman center Melissa Escalera who finished with game-highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Junior forward Erika Noriega finished with nine points. The Lightning were without two starters.
Stevens returns to action on Thursday, February 13, when it travels to Staten Island for a 7 p.m. game.
